Weaving shuttle

ABSTRACT

A weaving shuttle comprising an elongated body having two sidewalls interconnected at one end and separated at the other end of the shuttle and having an opening extending through the sidewalls separated at the other end, a bobbin located within the body between said sidewalls, retaining means for retaining the head of the bobbin being carried by the separated sidewalls, and an elastic strip extending under tension through the opening. The opening has widened portions at its outer ends and the elastic strip has thickened portions at each end. The thickened portions bear against the widened portions of said opening so that the sidewalls are biased towards each other by the tensioned strip.

United States Patent Johann Heinrich Butikoter Inventor Tann-Ruti, Zurich, Switzerland Appl. No. 862,808 Filed Oct. 1, 1969 Patented Sept. 14, 1971 Assignee Ruti Machinery Works Ltd., formerly Caspar Honegger Ruti, Switzerland Priority Oct. 23, 1968 Switzerland 015807/68 WEAVING SHUTTLE 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US Cl 139/207 Int. CL... D03] 5/16 Field of Search 139/ 1 96 I98, 206-208 [5 6] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 951,180 3/ l 964 Great Britain 139/207 1,024,637 1/1953 France 139/207 Primary ExaminerHenry S. Jaudon Att0rneyDonald D. Denton ABSTRACT: A weaving shuttle comprising an elongated body having two sidewalls interconnected at one end and separated at the other end of the shuttle and having an opening extending through the sidewalls separated at the other end, a bobbin located within the body between said sidewalls, retaining means for retaining the head of the bobbin being carried by the separated sidewalls, and an elastic strip extending under tension through the opening. The opening has widened portions at its outer ends and the elastic strip has thickened portions at each end. The thickened portions bear against the widened portions of said opening so that the sidewalls are biased towards each other by the tensioned strip.

WEAVING SHUTTLE This invention relates to a weaving shuttle having two sidewalls interconnected at one end of the shuttle and separated from each other at the other end, the sidewalls at the other end incorporating a retaining means for the head of the bobbin of the shuttle and being biased towards each other by a tensioned strip of elastic material uniquely fitted in an opening extending transversely through the sidewalls.

In order to retain a tensioned strip of elastic material in a shuttle of the type similar to this invention, it is known to harden the ends of the strip and to provide a hole in each of the hardened ends. Through these holes are pushed pins, which transmit force from the tensioned strip to the two sidewalls of the shuttle that retain the bobbin. The stresses thereby set up in the hardened ends can cause these ends to be destroyed. Furthermore, the tension of the strip can cause the pins to be pulled out of the sidewalls of the shuttle.

Advantageously, this invention provides a shuttle construction that eliminates these disadvantages. Thus, this invention contemplates a shuttle which comprises an elongated body having two sidewalls interconnected at one end and separated at the other end and having an opening extending through the sidewalls at the other end thereof, a bobbin located within said body between said sidewalls, retaining means for retaining the head of the bobbin being carried by the sidewalls at the other end, and an elastic strip extending under tension through the opening, said opening having widened portions at its outer ends and the elastic strip having thickened portions at each end, and said thickened portions bearing against the widened portions of said opening whereby said sidewalls are biased towards each other.

The invention will now be described in more detail by reference to the following embodiments and to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a weaving shuttle of this invention having resiliently biased sidewalls;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing greater details of an end portion of the shuttle shown in FIG. 1, with portions shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a sleeve used in the shuttle of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a further embodiment of the shuttle;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken through the end of the shuttle on the line V-V ofFlG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the end of another embodiment of a shuttle.

The present invention relates to a nipping type of shuttle shown in FIG. 1. In this type of shuttle the shuttle bobbin 18 is gripped between the biased sidewalls l1 and 12. The sidewalls l1 and 12 of the shuttle are firmly interconnected at the end 13 of the shuttle and consist of a single or integral piece of material. At the other end 14 of the shuttle the walls are separated from each other by a gap or space 15. In the interior of the shuttle, each sidewall 11 and 12 carries or includes a retaining means 16, whereby the head 17 of the bobbin and therefore the bobbin 18 are retained. The retention is effected by each retaining means 16 being formed by a recess located in a sidewall which matches the shape of the head 17 of the bobbin. The two sidewalls l1 and 12 are biased towards each other at the end 14, so that the bobbin 18 is firmly held in its seat in the recesses in the retaining means 16. i

The bias between the sidewalls of shuttles of this type is, in most cases, produced by means of a rubber strip 20 which provides a suitable tension. The strip is fitted in an opening 21 extending transversely of the sidewalls 11 and 12. The strip 20 is normally secured to the sidewalls by pins which pass transversely through the end portions of the rubber strip and which are inserted in the sidewalls l1 and 12. When the shuttle is in use and particularly when the bobbins are being changed, during which operation the sidewalls 11 and 12 are further separated at the end 14, it repeatedly happens that the pins become loose in the walls of the shuttle or that the rubber strip is damaged by the pins and tears.

According to this invention (as shown in FIG. 2), the shuttle has an opening or passage 21 at its end 14. The rubber strip 20 is located within the opening. The strip is generally a tensioned strip of elastic rubber or the like material. The strip 20 has thicker portions 22 and 23, respectively, at each end. The strip 20 and the thickened portions 22 and 23 can be of circular cross section or of any other suitable cross section. These thickenedportions are mounted in funnel-shaped sleeves 24 and 25, respectively, which in turn are fitted in the recesses 26 and 27, respectively, in the ends of the opening or passage 21. Each of the sleeves 24 and 25 contains a slot extending in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve. The sleeves can be made from an elastic material.

FIG. 3 illustrates one of the sleeves, i.e. the sleeve 24, in perspective. It has a hollow frustoconical form or shape. A longitudinal slot 28 interrupts or extends through the conical wall of the sleeve. This slot extends over the length of the conical wall side of the frustoconical sleeve. Towards the narrow end of this sleeve is a raised portion 24a, which is directed inwardly towards the interior of the sleeve and which extends over the entire inner circumference thereof. A second slot 29, which likewise runs lengthwise along the side of the frustoconical sleeve, extends through the inwardly directed raised portion 240.

In order to insert the rubber strip 20 into the shuttle, i.e. into the opening 21, the slot 28 of the sleeve 24 is widened to such an extent, by pulling the adjoining parts of the sleeve-wall adjacent to the slot away from each other, that the sleeve 24 can be pushed over the strip 20. The sleeve is then pushed on to the thickened portion 22. Referring to FIG. 2, the rubber strip 20 is then inserted into the opening 21 from above. To make this possible, the cross section of the opening 21 must be at least as great as the cross section of the'thickened portion 23 of the strip. In the next step, the strip 20 is gripped, e.g. by a tool such as pliers, at the thickened portion or head 23 and is stretched, (the other head or thickened portion 22 being retained by sleeve 24 in recess 26). A second sleeve, i.e. sleeve 25, which has an identical construction to sleeve 24, is pushed over the strip 20 (its slot 28 being sprung open for the purpose) so that the sleeve embraces the strip 20. If the thickened portion 23 is now released, it presses the sleeve 25 against the recess 27, and the sidewalls 11 and 12 are thereby biased towards each other. The slot 29, shown in FIG. 3, is for the purpose of facilitating the operation of widening the gap at 28.

If the sleeve is made of a flexible material, e.g; plastic rather than an elastic material e.g. rubber, it must be compressed after it has been pushed over the strip 20 until it embraces this strip. In other respects however the operation of inserting the strip 20 in the shuttle remains the same.

If the sleeve 24 is made of a solid, nonelastic and nonflexible material, the width of the slot 28 must be at least equal to the thinnest portion of the elastic strip 20 i.e. the intermediate body portion between the two ends, so that the latter can be pushed through the slot 28.

It has been found advantageous to make the thickened portion 23 of the strip 20 somewhat longer (as indicated by the broken line and designated by reference numeral 33) than is necessary for the purpose of insertion in the shuttle. This offers the possibility of enabling the thickened portion 23 to be more readily gripped. After the strip 20 has been inserted in the shuttle, the portion 33 of the strip projecting from the wall 11 of the shuttle, and shown in broken lines, can be cut off. Also, it is possible to fill up any depressions that may be present with an infill material, or to round off the edges on the surface of the shuttle. The raised portion 240 in the sleeve improves the seating of the thickened portions 22 and 23.

A further embodiment of the shuttle is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. These again show the end 14 of a weaving shuttle comprising the two sidewalls 11 and 12 with a gap 15 between them. In the opening or passage2l, containing the recesses 26 and 27, there is again located a strip 20 of elastic material,

which has thickened portions 22 and 23 at its ends. These portions bear against the recesses 26 and 27. A slot 30 leads away from the opening 21. The width of this slot is at least approximately equal to the diameter or thickness of the intermediate body portion of the strip 20. The slot 30 leads to a second opening or passage 31, the cross section of which is at least equal to the cross section of the thickened portions 22 and 23. The cross section of the opening 21 is at least approximately equal to the cross section of the intermediate portion of the strip 20.

In order to fit the strip 20 into the opening 21, it is passed through the opening 31, is gripped at its two ends and stretched. It can then be passed, parallel with itself, through the slot 30 and into the opening 21 and can be released. As the thickened portions 22 and'23 are lodged in the recesses 26 and 27 respectively, the strip biases the two sidewalls 11 and 12 towards each other. In this arrangement, the sleeves 24 and 25 are not necessary.

A further embodiment of the shuttle is shown in FIG. 6. With the exception that the opening 31, used for assembly purposes, is omitted, this embodiment corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The gap can be seen at the end 14 of the shuttle. A recess 26 is present at one end of an opening extending transversely through the sidewalls. Located in this opening is an elastic strip 20, the thickened portion 22 of which is visible. A slot 30' leads from the opening to the upper side of the shuttle. This could equally well extend to the bottom of the shuttle.

For the purpose of introducing the elastic strip 20, this is stretched and passed through the entrance formed by the slot 30 and into the opening 21 in a manner similar to that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. When the strip is released, the thickened portions at the two ends thereof lie, respectively, against the recess 26 and a recess corresponding thereto at the other end of the opening. The strip thus provides the required bias. As heretofore noted, in contrast to the arrangement shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second opening 31 is not necessary in this embodiment.

After the strip is positioned, it is of advantage to fill up the slot 30 with an infill material. A piece of material 32 similar to that of the shuttle, e.g. wood, hard plastic, etc., of appropriate shape can, for example, be glued in the slot.

Iclaim:

1. A weaving shuttle which comprises an elongated body, said body having two sidewalls interconnected at one end of the shuttle and separated from each other at the other end, and an opening extending transversely through the sidewalls at said other end, said opening having widened portions at its outer ends; a bobbin located within said body between said sidewalls; retaining means carried by said sidewalls for retaining the bobbin between the sidewalls; and a strip of elastic material under tension extending through said opening, said strip having thickened portions formed of said elastic material at each end and the thickened portions of the strip bearing against the widened portions of the opening whereby the sidewalls are biased towards each other to retain the bobbin within said body.

2. The weaving shuttle of claim 1 in which the cross section of the opening is greater than the cross section of the thickened portions of the strip, and funnel-shaped sleeves being fitted in the widened portions at the outer ends of the opening, the small inside diameter of each sleeve being approximately equal to the diameter of the elastic strip and the large outside diameter of each sleeve being greater than the diameter of the opening, said sleeves each being provided with a slot which extends through the wall of the sleeve in the longitudinal direction thereof and enables each of the sleeves to be pushed over the elastic strip.

3. The weaving shuttle of claim 2 in which the funnelshaped sleeves are made of elastic material.

4. The weaving shuttle of claim 2 in which the funnelshzgped sleeves are made of flexible material.

. The weaving shuttle of claim 4 in which the funnelshaped sleeves each have a hollow frustoconical form and each comprises, near their narrow end, an inwardly directed raised portion, extending over their inner circumference, and a second slot which is positioned opposite the slot extending through the wall of the sleeve, said second slot extending in the longitudinal direction of the frustoconical sleeve and through the inwardly directed raised portion.

6. The weaving shuttle of claim 2 in which the width of the slot is at least equal to the narrowest portion of the strip.

7. The weaving shuttle of claim 1 in which the widened portions are formed by recesses formed in the body of the shuttle at the outer ends of the opening.

8. The weaving shuttle of claim 7 in which a slot is provided in the sidewalls of the shuttle separated from each other at said other end, said slot passing transversely through the separated sidewalls and having a width approximately equal to the narrowest portion of the strip, said slot extending from the opening to an entrance on the shuttle body at which the strip of elastic material can be introduced into the slot.

9. The weaving shuttle of claim 8 in which said entrance is formed by a passage disposed transversely of the sidewalls separated from each other at said other end, the cross section of said passage being at least equal to the cross section of the thickened portions on said strip.

10. The weaving shuttle of claim 8 in which the slot extends from the opening to an outer surface of the shuttle said slot being filled with an infill material with the strip positioned in said opening. 

1. A weaving shuttle which comprises an elongated body, said body having two sidewalls interconnected at one end of the shuttle and separated from each other at the other end, and an opening extending transversely through the sidewalls at said other end, said opening having widened portions at its outer ends; a bobbin located within said body between said sidewalls; retaining means carried by said sidewalls for retaining the bobbin between the sidewalls; and a strip of elastic material under tension extending through said opening, said strip having thickened portions formed of said elastic material at each end and the thickened portions of the strip bearing against the widened portions of the opening whereby the sidewalls are biased towards each other to retain the bobbin within said body.
 2. The weaving shuttle of claim 1 in which the cross section of the opening is greater than the cross section of the thickened portions of the strip, and funnel-shaped sleeves being fitted in the widened portions at the outer ends of the opening, the small inside diameter of each sleeve being approximately equal to the diameter of the elastic strip and the large outside diameter of each sleeve being greater than the diameter of the opening, said sleeves each being provided with a slot which extends through the wall of the sleeve in the longitudinal direction thereof and enables each of the sleeves to be pushed over the elastic strip.
 3. The weaving shuttle of claim 2 in which the funnel-shaped sleeves are made of elastic material.
 4. The weaving shuttle of claim 2 in which the funnel-shaped sleeves are made of flexible material.
 5. The weaving shuttle of claim 4 in which the funnel-shaped sleeves each have a hollow frustoconical form and each comprises, near their narrow end, an inwardly directed raised portion, extending over their inner circumference, and a second slot which is positioned opposite the slot extending through the wall of the sleeve, said second slot extending in the longitudinal direction of the frustoconical sleeve and through the inwardly directed raised portion.
 6. The weaving shuttle of claim 2 in which the width of the slot is at least equal to the narrowest portion of the strip.
 7. The weaving shuttle of claim 1 in which the widened portions are formed by recesses formed in the body of the shuttle at the outer ends of the opening.
 8. The weaving shuttle of claim 7 in which a slot is provided in the sidewalls of the shuttle separated from each other at said other end, said slot passing transversely through the separated sidewalls and having a width approximately equal to the narrowest portion of the strip, said slot extending from the opening to an entrance on the shuttle body at which the strip of elastic material can be introduced into the slot.
 9. The weaving shuttle of claim 8 in which said entrance is formed by a passage disposed transversely of the sidewalls separated from each other at said other end, the cross section of said passage being at least equal to the cross section of the thickened portions on said strip.
 10. The weaving shuttle of claim 8 in which the slot extends from the opening to an outer surface of the shuttle said slot being filled with an infill material with the strip positioned in said opening. 